“What we say about others says more about us than it does them.”
I was recently asked, “Do you know XXXX XXXXXX?”
I responded out of ego, “Yeah. He’s a douche bag. And I don’t call names, but he really is a douche bag.”
GGGGRRRRRRRR, I wish I had that one back. My response, although my honest opinion
in that moment, really bothers me. It is so filled with judgment. My judgment of another is based on a severely limited view and understanding of the other person. Not only did I have to lay judgment and name call but I also had to point out to the other party that I am so good that I don’t name call! GGGGRRRRRR!!!! In retrospect, I was certainly the one being the DB. I was puffing my ego by means of ripping somebody else down.
We all make this error. What’s important is to recognize that you are doing it and then to recognize that it is a not cool.
Let me tell you something about douche bags. They are all very much just as awesome as you, whether you know it or not. Every single person you meet deserves kindness. Why? Because they do, don’t ask questions! Because kindness is the gift that will lift. Did you ever consider that maybe instead of judging and beating others down that it’s a better option to lift them up to help them be a better version of themselves?
In the same night that I was name calling and ego stroking, I was given the most amazing gift. I had to attend an event, but I was not feeling myself. I didn’t really want to be there and has harboring some negative feelings. Out of character I was feeling a little sad and insecure. Then out of nowhere – BOOM, somebody walked up to me and laid the most wonderful compliment upon me. It was from an unexpected and unlikely source. It was random and kind. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right moment. My mindset and attitude changed in an instant.
“On most days, the biggest thing that you can do is a small act of kindness, decency, or love.”
The previous quote is on the wall in my office. I wish I didn’t forget these words and the words in the opening quote as often as I do. I lived and felt the power of both of these statements that night.
The lessons that I needed to reinforce to myself are as follows:
- Don’t call people names. It’s ugly. It’s judgmental. It’s egotistical. It’s a reflection of how I feel about myself.
- Say and do nice things for others. Doing so is more powerful than you know.
Go lift others and have a great day!
Love and Let 